Chapter 1 - To keep you from breaking

Chapter 1 – To keep you from breaking…

Seven years ago

Antonella Ricci

POV

Today is my wedding day, my father blackmailed, my soon to be father-in-law to marry me to his son, my father wanted to use me to bring down the Cross family. Standing across the man who I would soon call my husband I couldn’t help but be taken aback by his good looks. God sure has favored this man, is the best way to describe his good looks would be as if I was staring at a piece of art created by the Gods themselves. Starting off with his striking blue eyes, this sharp and defined nose. He gave off a cold and distant aura. Yet it made him even more attractive. It drew people to him. The way he looked at me told me one thing for sure. He would never love me.

I knew Allister would never love me, yet it didn’t stop me from having a little crush on him. Allister is the man I’d picture myself with if my father wasn’t forcing his family to bow down to us.

                                                                                                      

Antonio Ricci wanted nothing more than to bring the family to their knees, but he needed their influence to expand his business into the US. Funny ain’t it? Needing your enemies and wanting to destroy them at the same time…

A church full of people I’ve never laid eyes on. We said our vows as written by the wedding planner and the PR team who worked for the Cross family.

Our wedding was the talk of the town for the last year. Two years ago, as soon as I finished my degree, I was summoned to America by my father. I’d left my entire life behind to be here with Allister. I had to move my entire network down here.

My wedding dress was chosen by my father, the big puffy dress wasn’t my style or something I’d ever choose for myself. But to make my father happy I did what he asked, no questions asked. I looked like a unicorn and a care bear threw up on me, my dress not only had silk, lace, pearls, diamonds and at least three other jewels on it. The large about of itchy tool under it had me feeling like I could pass out at any second.

I look at the man in front of me placing a white gold ring chosen by his father onto my finger. He’s been cold and distant since we met two years ago. I don’t blame him; he must think I’m as evil as my father.

But that didn’t matter to me, I was here to break free from my father. I might not even live to see the day but one thing for sure, I was going to help Allister break free from my father’s clutches.

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Present Day

I sigh closing my eyes.

“I don’t think you’ll be able to leave today…” my doctor tells me.

I nod. “Pass me my phone please I need to call Allister’s assistant, he needs to pick Aaliyah up from school.” I ask him.

One would think I would be used to it by now. The looks of pity, the constant need to keep a secret, my doctors have been with me for the past eight years.

I open my eyes; I didn’t want to see the pity in his eyes. But there it was. He was feeling sorry for me when he didn’t need to.

“Bleeding?” I ask when I take the phone from him.

He nods. “We found blood in your stomach again. We have to repair it…” he explains.

I nod. “Thank you…” I was hoping I didn’t end up here today. Today is dinner as a family with Allister and Aaliyah. The one thing I could get Allister to do at least once a week. For our daughter, not for me of course.

It’s the one day of the week we play nice and be there for our daughter.

I won’t be around for much longer, so I wanted to bring Allister and Aaliyah closer together. She’ll need her father after losing me.

I wasn’t given a year left to live. I have gastric cancer and I’ve hidden it from my family. I’ve been doing everything in my power to make sure they’re set for life after I die.

I know Allister will be happy once I’m no longer around. But my daughter. She’ll be sad and alone if he works the way he does now after I’m gone.

I sigh leaning back. “Sam, do you mind giving me a moment?” I ask him.

He nods. He walks out of the room.

I call Allister’s assistant. I never call Allister if I need anything or need to speak to him, he’d never answer any of my calls even if I did call him. Relaying messages from his assistant to him is the best I could do.

“Mr. Cross’s office. Rayna speaking…” her soft and sweet voice has me biting my lip.

She’s been his assistant for about a year now, she’s not only gorgeous but smart. About a month ago I found out the two have been seeing each other. I try not to be hurt because I want him to be happy when I’m gone, and I want Leah to have a mother figure in her life when I’m no longer around.

“Hi, Rayna it’s Antonella. Could you ask Allister to pick up Aaliayah from school please and that they’d be having dinner alone tonight I’m out of the country. Thanks…” I say before hanging up.

I lay back closing my eyes. I’d collapsed in my office this morning. I’d woken up feeling great. I took Leah to school; I spent the morning with Dean planning our whole year out.

Of course, the only problem I’ve been having is keeping food down. I thought I had it handled. I’ve been having a hard time keeping anything down the last couple of weeks. So, I’ve only eaten when I needed to. And our weekly family dinners, I’ve never eaten much in front of Allister, and he always assumed I was on a diet, not that he paid much attention to me anyway.

Of course, I was busy with a vanishing yesterday and I didn’t have a single bite to eat and unfortunately it caught up to me.

“Nelly what happened what did the doctor say?” Dean my partner walks in.

I open my eyes and look at him. “I won’t be able to go home tonight…” I tell him. I swallow not being able to face Dean. The guilt of not being able to be there for him much longer and leaving him with the responsibility of taking care of our charity and my side business. And asking him to keep an eye on Leah for me. I knew I was asking for too much, but I’d left him with letters I wanted delivered to Leah every year on her birthday.

He nods. He walks over to the window and looks out. “Why isn’t that bastard here with you? Does he hate you that much he doesn’t care that you nearly died?” you could hear the emotion in his voice. I could feel his anger in my chest.

Dean and I went to college together. When I came to America, he was the only person I knew. We’d started my charity together. And when I die, I leave the charity in his care.

Our NGO helps provide food, clothing, and healthcare to the homeless and those who can’t afford healthcare. We opened free clinics, shelters, and clothing stores where the homeless come in and get new clothes for themselves. We always provide them with jobs, therapy, and anything else they need to get back onto their feet.

It made Allister happy that I did something with my life, and I didn’t bother him. This charity was started with my own money and not money from my father or husband.

“Allister doesn’t know I’m sick and I’d like to leave it that way…” I’ve told him multiple times I didn’t want Allister to know. I knew he didn’t care, and my heart couldn’t bear to hear it.

“That’s not fair. Nelly, you don’t have that much longer to live, he deserves to know everything you did was for him and your daughter. You sacrificed so much for a man who hates your guts.” Dean has been on my case for years now. but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

The last seven years being married to Allister, I started an NGO to help people, I’ve helped thousands for women all over the world get out of abusive relationships. I’ve met wonderful people. Had a daughter, I fell in love with Allister.

For me I’ve lived a full life without any regrets. The only thing I’d wish for is to see my daughter grow old. To be at her graduation, to meet her first boyfriend, to be at her wedding. But I do hope that Allister will be there for her in those moments…

“I so badly want to punch him in the face for him to see what an amazing person you are…” Dean sighs.

“Dean leave her alone…” Lucinda Dean’s wife says walking into the hospital room.

She works at the NGO as the public relations manager. She’s damn good at her job and a good friend of mine.

I smile at her.

“I’d like to get some rest please…” I tell them.

They both nod and leave the room soon after.

I don’t have much time left; I do need to get my affairs in order. I cannot leave some things unattended. My side business as I call it needs more than Dean running it.

I close my eyes and recall a friend, Erin. She was in Miami, and she’d helped me once. I wonder if she’d help me if I asked.

Well, that was tomorrow’s worry.